First day of the tour. After being picked up at Gang Shan slow rail station I arrived at KYU (Kao Yuan University 高苑科技大學) for check-in and payment of the NT$ 6 500 fee. No events on this day because KYU staff, counsellors are still busy picking up people from all over the world arriving at different times and different locations. Must be a logistical nightmare. Events and the journey around this island will actually start tomorrow. Nice welcome packages with towels and even metal chopsticks found in our rooms.

Amazed to see that all the counsellors were wearing jeans. I still think it is too hot in Taiwan to wear jeans.

Watched a gecko quickly dart up a wall, something I don't think I've seen before in person.

2007-07-22 09:45. Classroom/auditorium. Old Big explained the locations for the different learning activities. Chinese musical instrument the Zither- Guzheng 古箏 was here in the Classroom, Taiwanese Taike dance on the second floor, Chinese traditional toys outside, calligraphy was in another classroom somewhere else. Resting in dorm rooms was also an option but the downside was that there was no AC as electricity was turned off.

2007-07-22 20:07. Around dinner, learned basic phrases from the Indonesians

2007-07-22 20:23. Laundry pickup

2007-07-22 21:01. Classroom/auditorium, practicing for Taiwan Night (the final evening of 28th) performance, each bus had to prepare. We had about two songs.

2007-07-22 23:10. Back in dorm room

2007-07-22 23:22. Helped A with roll check

2007-07-23 00:30. Aping/counsellor's dorm room with four laptops, got my digital camera back after they'd finished copying photos up to that point, to be used for the souvenir book/DVD they were making.

2007-07-23 20:21. Staff opened all classroom doors after I told a senior staff member about the white fog and distinct odour in the classroom, which was disinfectant that had been sprayed earlier that day.